by Riley Pine
Nikolai cocks a dark brow and gives his brother a crooked grin. “I did call The Jewel Box, yes. Does your lady love go by the name of Pearl? I called on an old friend for a little favor.”
“Pearl?” Benedict says with a tone that makes me feel like I’m missing some private joke. “No. The Madam gave Evangeline the name Ruby, but no one will ever call her that again.”
Nikolai crosses his arms. “Fair enough.” Then his eyes fall on mine. “Benedict and X have filled me in on your family’s history. I am sorry for all you’ve suffered in the name of your father’s legacy. The kingdom is indebted to the work he did—to the work your brother will continue.”
I nod. “And I, as well,” I say.
“What?” Benedict asks, his eyes wide.
“I’m an artist,” I say. “I want to use my talent to further protect the kingdom. I’m not saying I want to join The Order. But I want to help in any way I can.”
The king steps forward and bows his head. “It seems I was quick to judge. Please accept my deepest gratitude, Evangeline.”
“Thank you, Your Highness,” I say.
X strides up behind the king, his sons and the princess. “Actually,” he says, “I’m quite impressed with your forgery of the map and the speed with which you produced it. The Order could use someone like you as a friend—in case we ever need such services.” He glances toward Benedict. “I swear she will be safe, Your Highness. Any work she might do for us would be highly secure and confidential. Though the Madam will not be able to harm you, Evangeline, Nightgardin still seeks the Spring and will try again to find the map. And if she relayed to her employers what your brother said in his unconscious babblings...”
“By the light of the moon, Evangeline,” I say. “You know what that means?”
X walks to the window on the opposite side of my bed, pulling open the shade with a gloved hand. It is not yet dawn. He takes a map from beneath his arm—one I know immediately is the real deal—unrolls it and holds it up to the moonlight. The only sound is a collective gasp as we all peer at an image coming into view, an illustration superimposed over the map of the catacombs. It looks an awful lot like a small body of water—the Spring.
As quickly as he shows us the moonlit image, X clears his throat and rolls the map back up.
“Your father’s angel kept this map safe for years, and while I trust the palace is the best place to continue hiding it, I will leave it to The Order’s discretion. For everyone’s safety, the final location will be kept a secret from all but our members.”
Everyone nods their agreement.
“Also, Miss Evangeline, Jasper is awake and asking for you. I’ve already sent for his wife and daughter to travel from their safe house.”
New tears spring from my eyes as I look to Benedict, my love.
“Take me to him. Please.”
He nods. “I’ll have a nurse come with a wheelchair.” He turns to X and his family. “Can we have a moment alone?” he asks.
With that, the whole party bows their heads and takes their leave.
And then my prince takes my hand once more—and drops to his knees beside my bed.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Benedict
“BENEDICT, WHAT ARE you doing?” Evangeline asks in a stunned voice.
“Angel, you have brought me to my knees,” I say simply. “My entire life I have walked about with a sense that something was missing inside me. For a long time I had hoped that joining the church would bring me that sense of purpose, but I was wrong. While I will always have a strong faith, I know now that what was missing was you.”
Her eyes fill with tears and shine with such love that for a moment I am unable to speak. Finally, I clear my throat and move on.
“You are my soul’s mate, Evangeline. My darling. My forever. And I don’t want to waste another second not giving you everything your heart might desire. I am nothing but a second son, with no hope of inheriting our kingdom’s ancient throne, but I will devote my existence from this moment forward to giving you the happily-ever-after that you deserve.”
“What are you saying?” Her voice cracks.
Even in this hospital bed, after all those monsters did, the sight of her takes my breath away.
Carefully, I engulf her hand in my own. “I am saying that I love you. And you would make me the happiest of men if you’d be willing to take me as your husband.”
She gasps. Marriage. Her lips form the word, but no sound escapes.
I incline my head. “I wasn’t quite prepared today. I don’t have a ring, but we can get one made, any type of stone, any setting, you say the word and it’s good as—”
“Yes!” She pushes herself into a half-sit, tossing her head, her hair pouring over one shoulder like a waterfall of golden silk. “Yes, a million times over.”
I let out a shaky breath. I have chosen, just like my mother said I should. I have chosen happiness. But I will still do good—by this woman and by all who shall cross our path. Because she is goodness incarnate, and in her angelic light I shall not stray.
“You mean it?” I ask.
She giggles. “Don’t look so shocked. Have you looked in a mirror? Loving that face for the rest of my life isn’t exactly going to be a hardship.” She presses a palm over my heart. “And loving this?” she says with a reverence I’m not expecting. “It’s not within my power to do otherwise.”
I rise up and kiss her softly, given her bruised and battered state. My lips brush hers, and as I move to pull away, she reaches out and grabs my head, pressing my mouth firmly to hers. When her sweet tongue tangles with mine, I growl with repressed desire. She tastes like peaches and brown sugar. I want to devour her but first must get her well.
* * *
And that is exactly what I do. For the next two weeks, I spend every waking second in the hospital as she recuperates behind the safety of The Order. We’re still trying to sort out the breach within our guard—how Gideon came into royal employ and if there are others such as him within our midst. During the periods when Evangeline rests, I stand watch with the brethren. When she tends to personal needs or is taken for therapy, I wander the wards. Mix with the people. See the operations of this remarkable institution, the dedication of the doctors, nurses and other staff.
“You are wonderful with the children,” I tell her one evening after watching my love, from her wheelchair, teach a painting class in the pediatric wing. “You are everyone’s angel, it seems.”
She slides over in her bed, patting the spot beside her, and I crawl in to cradle her healing body like I’ve done so many nights before.
“I told you,” she says. “I want to give back. I always thought my art didn’t mean anything to anyone but me, but I can help The Order. I can help these kids.” Her eyes shine with the happiest of tears. “I never thought I could make a difference, but—”
I silence her with a soft kiss, and she melts into me.
“Everyone you touch, angel, is better for it. Don’t you see that?”
She sniffles and smiles. “I think I’m starting to,” she says.
“What if we can make a difference together?” I ask, and her brows furrow. “I’ve been invited to serve on the board of directors. The royal family will be contributing a sizable donation to spearhead a campaign to build a specialty hospital just for children. The vote has been finalized, and it seems the board has accepted my proposal for what to call it.” Her eyes widen. “The Giuseppe Vernazza Hospital for Children.”
I was wrong. The tears that stream down her face, these are the happiest I’ve seen, though I know this moment is bittersweet. If I could give Evangeline her father back, I would. Instead, I will see to it that we honor his name with work that will take care of our future generations.
“Oh, Benedict,” she says, and I kiss her sweetly on the forehead. “I didn’t think it
was possible to love you more than I already do, but you keep surprising me. Ever since Jasper, Camille and Lola went into hiding, I’ve felt so lost without them. If not for you, I don’t know how I would have survived their departure. You are my family now, and you’ve given our future such purpose. I don’t know how I could be happier.”
I pull her close and breathe in the sweet scent of her. “This is only the beginning, angel. There is so much more to come.”
* * *
At last the day Evangeline is to leave arrives. I find her in her hospital room, sitting in a chair by the window.
“All set?” I ask.
“Yes, but we have to wait another hour,” she says with a pretty pout.
“Why?”
I am the prince. If my future princess is ready to leave, there should be a team of porters assembled to cater to her whim.
“Because X said that he had to talk to you and Nikolai together.”
She runs a hand over my chest. “We have sixty whole minutes to kill. Whatever shall we do to pass the time?”
There’s no mistaking the naughty tease to her tone. My cock strains against my pants. I have been so focused on her healing that for weeks we have not been able to connect in such a way that acknowledges our simmering chemistry.
But now our attraction is bubbling over.
“Are you sure?” I murmur, bracing her face between my hands.
She licks her lips and then, grabbing my wrist, lowers her mouth over my index finger, sucking it hard. When she reaches my knuckle, she gives a gentle wink.
“Fuck me hard,” I rumble.
“Gladly,” she purrs. “Lock the door, my liege.”
Because when I give her this, the most intimate part of me, I am not just giving her my body and heart. She owns my soul.
Evangeline
This is my future. This man who is finally able to see his true potential. This man who never thought his life was his own choice, yet once he realized it was...he chose me.
“I love you, my prince,” I say as I sink over him again, burying every inch inside me yet never feeling like I can truly get enough.
“And I love you, my angel. My soul’s keeper. My Evangeline.”
He kisses me, then tilts his head to offer me a wicked grin. This man is so full of goodness, but, oh, how I love it when he’s bad.
“What?” I ask, and he answers by slipping his hand between us, spreading my slick, wet heat over my swollen clit.
I cry out, but he whispers a soft “Shh. Remember where we are. You don’t want the nurses thinking you need help. Do you?”
I shake my head, then bite my lip to keep from making another sound.
“And there will be reporters waiting for our exit. Everyone wants to catch a glimpse of Edenvale’s newest princess-to-be.” His words are measured and calm, but I can tell he’s barely keeping it together. Just to test him, I clench my inner muscles around his cock, and he hisses through his teeth.
I raise my brows in silent victory, but all he does is grin.
“I’m going to make you come now, angel. I’m going to make you come so fucking hard, so do what you have to do so as not to give us away.”
And because I believe him, I nod. Then I bury my face in his neck and bite on his skin, hoping I don’t draw blood. Because as I lift my hips, allowing him to slide out slowly, his hand slips between us again so that when he plunges back inside, hitting me precisely where he knows he should, I all but come apart at the seams as the orgasm rocks through my core, both inside and out.
I shudder against him as he growls into my hair, his climax taking its grip, and he finally loses control, savagely crying out like I’ve never heard him before.
I burst into a fit of giggles, my head still hiding in the crook of his neck.
“Well,” I say through sharp pants. “At least the nurses won’t think I’m in any danger.”
He throws his head back and laughs, my beautiful, wonderful, soul-stealing prince.
And just as predicted, an impatient fist pounds at the door.
Benedict and I clean ourselves up in record time. I seat myself on the side of the hospital bed and smooth out my skirt while he finally unlocks the door.
Nikolai raises a brow and clears his throat.
“What?” Benedict asks, running a hand through hair I notice is dampened with sweat at his nape.
The corner of Nikolai’s mouth quirks up. “Nothing, Your Holiness. I just usually wear my clothing with the tags on the inside. And in the back.”
That’s when I see the stitching on Benedict’s pants—because it’s on the outside. Inside out and backward does, likely, give us away, and it’s all I can do to stifle my laughter.
Benedict simply shrugs. “What can I say?” he asks. “Evangeline gets to go home today. To our home. We decided to celebrate early.”
Nikolai looks at me and winks, and my cheeks turn red-hot.
“Well,” Nikolai says, “fix yourself up, because X will be here any minute. I’d like to know why I was summoned when I should be home ravishing my own wife. Again.”
Benedict drops his pants right then and there, turning them the way they should be before pulling them on again.
“Really?” he says to his older brother. “We’re going to take sibling rivalry to this level? Because I’ve got decades of virginity to make up for. I don’t think you could keep up, old man.”
“Boys,” I say, and they turn their attention to me. “As much as I’m enjoying this little cock fight...” I nod toward the door, where X stands in one of his impeccably tailored suits. Sometimes I wonder what goes on when he’s not saving our lives. Actually, no. I always wonder. As much as X has opened my eyes these past months, so much about him, The Order and my family’s history is still a mystery.
“Come with me” is all he says.
“I’m not leaving Evangeline,” Benedict tells him. “She’s not yet been released.”
X nods. “We are not leaving hospital grounds. Bring her, as well. This will affect her life, too.”
Benedict reaches for my hand, and Nikolai’s playful smile disappears. Both men follow their guard with measured calm, but the way Benedict squeezes my hand tells me of his unspoken fear. What are we about to walk into?
X guides us to an elevator, where we ride up several floors to the intensive care unit. I swallow hard. This is where Jasper was before he came out of his coma. I breathe deeply, and it’s as if X reads my mind.
“Your brother and his family are safely hidden, Evangeline. This...is something new.”
The doors open to the quiet floor. We pass the nurses’ station and travel down the hall until its very end. Room 7104.
The door is cracked, but we cannot see inside.
“What is this, X?” Benedict asks, but X just holds a finger to his lips.
We listen to the murmurings going on inside.
“He’s lost consciousness again,” a female voice says. “But he was awake long enough for me to get some answers. His name, which we will have to verify by calling the family, and enough evidence for me to conclude this is quite the traumatic brain injury.”
“What do you mean?” a deep male voice asks.
“Doctor, our patient has no idea how he ended up in Edenvale. When I asked him to recall the most recent national event he’d seen reported on the news—he spoke of a tabloid headline concerning Prince Nikolai’s sexual exploits upon a French heiress’s yacht.”
Benedict gives his brother a knowing stare.
“Hey,” Nikolai says. “While I do remember that exploit fondly, that was the old me. I exploit no one other than my wife now.” He quirks a brow.
“What’s the matter with that?” we hear the male doctor ask.
The woman clears her throat. “Sir, the headline is just over a year old. If the last thi
ng he remembers is a story about his brother, our patient seems to have lost a year of his life.”
“Brother?” Benedict says, his palm damp against my own hand. “X, what the hell is she talking about?”
X steps back as the door flies open, startling the man and woman in white lab coats.
Finally, I see a young man lying in bed, his face bruised and swollen, a strip of gauze taped over what must be a gash on his left temple and the telltale scar down the side of a face as famous as his brothers, who stand before me.
“What the fuck is he doing here?” Nikolai asks.
“So it’s true,” the female doctor says.
Benedict nods.
“Benedict?” I ask. “Is that really...?”
He pulls me close and squeezes me to his side, as if I am the only thing grounding him right now.
“Yes. That’s Damien,” he says softly. “Edenvale’s banished prince. Our brother.”
X finally lets out a breath. “I don’t think it’s a coincidence he was found the same day Evangeline is set to be released. This is a message from Nightgardin. It seems they will use any means to gain the location of the Spring.”
EPILOGUE
X
IT’S BEEN A fucking day—escorting the royal family back to the palace. All the family. Even Damien, the youngest of the Lorentz brothers and no longer a complete persona non grata, is in the palace for the first time in years since betraying his eldest brother, Nikolai, by first seducing his fiancée—and then causing the accident that took her life and scarred him forever. He bears not only a spiritual stain...but the physical reminders, as well.
I have more business to get through, but as I park my bike in front of The Jewel Box, Rosegate’s finest brothel once more now that the Madam is gone, I smile at the thought of mixing in a little pleasure first.
A window slides open at the entrance, and I show my lifetime pass. The door clicks open, and I stride inside, barely noticing the sumptuous red velvet furniture, the golden wallpaper or the runway-caliber women sauntering about wearing nothing but the jewels for which they are named. With Benedict being her one and only client, Ruby—or Evangeline—never worked the floor, never bore the jeweled mark of her trade. She was not meant for this line of work, and for her I am happy that with His Highness she found something more fitting. But the women here now—they are consummate professionals, more than adept in their skill. And they take pleasure in their craft.
